Going on Faith: A simple meal?

Rev. J.B Shelton/Going on Faith

Monday

Apr 9, 2018 at 5:25 PM

At the beginning of this century, political scientist Robert Putnam's book “Bowling Alone,” was stirring up debate about the state of local community life in America. Putnam observed, with surely at least some accuracy, that the daily and weekly social habits that once drew Americans together into extended networks of friendship were now in decline, a decline symbolized for him in the demise of bowling leagues.

Dear Neighbors,

At the beginning of this century, political scientist Robert Putnam’s book “Bowling Alone,” was stirring up debate about the state of local community life in America. Putnam observed, with surely at least some accuracy, that the daily and weekly social habits that once drew Americans together into extended networks of friendship were now in decline, a decline symbolized for him in the demise of bowling leagues.

Whatever the merits of his book, it seemed to me then that our new century of hope and possibilities should prompt us Americans to do the hard work of coming together and making good decisions about who we want to be in the emerging future.

Much has happened in America since Putnam made his observations. America went to war, twice, for reasons that still divide us, while smart phones and social media brought us together in ways that are profound and, perhaps, still questionable. The political divide seems unbridgeable, with intelligent, kind and loyal Americans, who have so much to share with each other, nevertheless fundamentally divided over how our shared nation should promote and protect our shared goals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We agree on what we want, but we cannot even calmly discuss our contradictory opinions on how to get it. And without genuinely diverse social networks in place to bring differing perspectives together in unthreatening experiences of community life, we can find ourselves looking back to Putnam’s observations only to nod in agreement, but then shrug in acceptance of the inevitability of our national situation.

The social ailments that plague our nation can all be treated at the national level by the various federal, industrial and even entertainment forces that operate extensively at that level. But what if the remedies for every social problem from racism to loneliness are really local, requiring new forms of direct social interaction among rigidly diverse members of our local communities? What if the conscious decision to spend three or four hours each week engaged in leisurely, community-building, social interaction with neighbors who are as different from ourselves as possible, is the necessary building block for the construction of a national society in which life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness can finally be secured for all of us social creatures?

Can we — and I intend this as a genuine, non-rhetorical question — learn together the social arts of listening carefully and respectfully to the challenging questions, complaints and opinions of our neighbors? Can we safely practice the skills of sharing, even with neighbors we do not yet trust, our insights, hopes and dreams? Are we willing to take social risks and to adopt a sacrificial approach to time, all in the interest of improving ourselves, building meaningful community life and establishing lasting customs that can take hold throughout our nation?

Religious ministers tend to overthink these sorts of things, to find problems that aren’t really there, and to suggest solutions that are quaint or simply impractical. Acknowledging this, I’ll just leave you with a simple experiment. Given the importance of shared meals in the social life of humans, I encourage you to note the extent of challenging diversity among those with whom you chose to share meals during your leisure time. If you’re not routinely choosing to share meals with people who are different from you and who differ with you, then it could be that upon further reflection you will see new opportunities open up before you, ones which could contribute to the revitalization of our local communities and even our nation.

Your Neighbor,

Rev. J.B. Shelton, pastor

St. Mary’s Parish,

est. 1943

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